Focusing on Joy

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

-Psalm 30:4-5 (NKJV)-

Challenge for the day: take an ordinary day and re-order it. Re-order your thoughts, your focus and your actions. For example, if you typically get up, eat breakfast, get ready for work or school or whatever it is you do, give thought to what you are doing. And before you begin all of that, pray. Prayer is never wasted. So, before you travel to your next activity, thoughtfully praise God for one thing, in Jesus' name.

Think about all the time you spend on the internet surfing, checking e-mail, Facebook, or perhaps staring out the window. No judging here. Been there, done that, still do that if I don't catch myself and re-order my thoughts and focus.

See, if we focus on the right things, our thought-life comes in line with God's will. And when that happens, we are stayed in perfect peace, filled with joy and reassured that everything is okay.

How do we re-order our thoughts and focus?

1) Sing praises in your spirit or out-loud!

2) Give thanks to God for something. Make a list. Try adding to that list each day for at least one thing for which you are truly thankful.

3) Remember, His favor is for life. Though you may be enduring some discipline right now, it's only because he loves you, tremendously.

4) Weeping may endure for a night, or a week, or a month, or several months, or a year. Weeping is not a bad thing. When we grieve, we go through a process that ends in release. Release from whatever you need it from or have gone through. If you are praising and thanking during this time of weeping, how much more will God remember his favor for you?

Have you ever met someone who is going through an especially difficult time, but continues to thank God and praise God during it? Aren't you marveled at their humility and surrender? Our hearts immediately become softer at such a person. Think how much more tender and gentle God will view us if we re-order our brains to think and believe in this way.

5) Remember, joy comes in the morning. And oh, happy day! That kind of joy bubbles and erupts from within. It is nothing this world can give you. And it is also nothing this world can sustain. This joy radiates straight from God. It truly is like a spring that never stops flowing right through your spirit, and mind, and emotions and will. When you feel this joy begin in your heart, it will feel like a long-lost friend who seemingly has been out in the cold. But really, friends, joy has been there all along. Joy was waiting for you to weep, thank and praise.

That, in itself, may be perhaps one of the most miraculous gifts the Holy Spirit offers us: unending joy.

So, today, at some point - take 3 minutes out. Praise God, Thank God, Allow yourself to surrender and weep if you need to, and receive joy in its abundance. Remember, if you have to wait for the joy, it is well worth it! Don't give up!

Heavenly Father, thank you that we may rest in the promise of receiving your joy. Thank you that we may have it in full. We praise you and thank you for who you are, and whose we are. Thank you that though we may be weeping for a time, or even just for the night, a new day is waiting for us, along with the joy you so generously and gladly give to us. In Jesus' name, Amen.